Hitchhiker Finances - HOW MUCH MONEY Do I Need?

[walkoflife]

I really couldn't have said it better than Salman did. I would bring what you feel would be your safety net without taking too much and putting yourself at risk (because you can usually tell when a person has alot of money on them due to their nervous aura). If you don't want to carry cash, get a reloadable Visa/Mastercard. That way if you get 'ran up', you can easily get a replacement sent to you. Or, the traveler's cheques idea is good, too. But for the most part, your basic amenities are free if you are skilled and patient enough to tap into them.

[redford]

[quote:31aa1841bb="walkoflife"] Or, the traveler's cheques idea is good, too. [/quote:31aa1841bb]

Stay away from traveler's checks. You pay to buy them, then have to search for someplace to cash them. Then have to usually pay to exchange them.

[krowfeast]

you may not need to bring money but having skills is a must without my guitar or banjo i'd be surprised if i ever got picked up. ( i'm 6'4 and 275 pds)

[Chaen]

I'm going to hitching for my first time this coming summer these tips will come in handy. Thanks for the help everyone that contributed.

[TeotlOnion]

I've never, ever hitched with cash. Money is an idea. It only has power because we give it power. If I want or need it for something, I get it. Obviously in a way that doesn't involve stealing it. But I get it somehow. And you'd be amazed at how many unofficial hobo halfway houses there are. There's people in towns in this country who've never experienced the road at all, but they sure do get a kick out of putting up/smoking out/feeding dirty road kids. It can't be stressed enough: talk to people. Be friendly. Be honest. Rejoice in what youre doing, and don't be ashamed. These are my secrets to success.

[manmouse]

[quote:2a85e00c60="TeotlOnion"]I've never, ever hitched with cash. Money is an idea. It only has power because we give it power. If I want or need it for something, I get it. Obviously in a way that doesn't involve stealing it. But I get it somehow. And you'd be amazed at how many unofficial hobo halfway houses there are. There's people in towns in this country who've never experienced the road at all, but they sure do get a kick out of putting up/smoking out/feeding dirty road kids. It can't be stressed enough: talk to people. Be friendly. Be honest. Rejoice in what youre doing, and don't be ashamed. These are my secrets to success. [/quote:2a85e00c60]

i don't see the point of voluntarily going without cash.
what about public transit? even just $1-3 can go a long way.

i'm a pretty charitable person. if i'm not traveling and someone asks if they could have a dollar or two for the bus or a coffee or something, i help if i can. but i'd be PISSED to find out the person i helped purposely went on the road with no money expecting people such as myself and others to pay for their way, rather than getting some of their own and supporting themselves.

[TeotlOnion]

I can see where you're coming from, but it's slightly different. I never just go on the road to make a trip from here to there and then I'm done. When I'm on the road, I live there. Usually for months or years at a time. Starting out with money is one thing, but it dries up quick. Usually I try to keep away from the stuff all together. Free food abounds (even if it came from a dumpster), especially in the states. Water is free, and shelter (as our society knows it) is overrated. Assume makes an ass out of you and me. I never expect other people to pay my way. If I fly a sign, it usually says something funny or something simple like "Be happy." Also I usually am trading for the cash by way of providing musical entertainment, some spinning of the ole practice poi, telling jokes, or whatever.

Also, I usually am on the rainbow trail working for free food kitchens, where we have nothing and turn it into food for hundreds of people who otherwise didn't have any. It all balances out, it's a circle. And it's not as black and white as you seem to think.

Once again, money is an idea. There is no federal reserve anymore. Your greenbacks aren't backed by gold sitting in a trust. National debt is in the billions, man. So even if someone does want to "pay my way" as you so high-handedly put it, they're doing so of their own free will, with currency that's only REALLY worth as much as the paper it's printed on and the abstract idea of value that we associate with it when it suits our purposes. I'll burn a mountain of dollar bills and laugh about it because it doesn't matter. It isn't sustainable, and the grocery store might as well be a crack addiction.

If you really wanna get into it, why don't you try building your own house and growing your own food for a while. Because if that isn't what you're doing now than you, sir, are not paying your own way.

Thanks for the comment.

Onion

[dolph78]

Actually, our debt is in the trillions.

[rubsley]

What do you spend money on? Do you drink? Take drugs? Those things are expensive. Do you like fancy restaurants? Ditto. I've generally lived pretty well on about five dollars a day - and often on less. I've also hitched plenty without a dime in my pocket, including crossing the entire US west to east and that was cool too.

Honestly, I'd say, don't worry about it: you'll always have enough. The universe provides. Remember, the world's full of jobs and food and kind people and possibility.

Cheers!
Rory

Discovering Beautiful: On The Road To Somewhere - a tale of 20,000 miles of hitching through the US and Mexico, and some other things besides, available on Amazon now

[WheresNate]

100 cash, whatever i have on debit in case.

its not how much you bring, rather how much you earn that is the secret.